doxxing
/ˈdɒksɪŋ/
CommonResearching and publicly publishing someone's private personal information without their consent, usually to expose or harm them.
Doxxing makes the jump from online harassment to real-world threat. Posting someone's address invites physical danger, not just online abuse. Considered one of the more serious forms of online harassment.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | someone posted her home address in the thread. she got doxxed. | Her private address was exposed publicly in a hostile context. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | i had to move after getting doxxed. it's not just an online thing. | The real-world consequences forced a physical response. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | they doxxed him because he left a negative review. | An extreme response to minor criticism led to real-world exposure. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | doxxing isn't just harassment, it's a safety threat. | The act goes beyond insults and creates physical danger. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- Someone's home address or real name was posted publicly by a third party.
- A person's private information is being shared to encourage harassment.
- Someone was identified and exposed against their will.
Do not use it when
- You mean someone shared public information the person had already disclosed.
- You mean someone was exposed for lying but no private information was shared.
Variations and related forms
Doxxing vs swatting
doxxing
Doxxing exposes private information publicly to invite harassment or danger.
VS
swatting
Swatting uses that information (or just a location) to send armed police to someone's home.
Origin and context
From 'dropping docs' (documents). Originated in hacker culture in the 1990s. Became widespread outside of hacking communities as social media made personal information easier to find and share.
- First seen
- 1990s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/doxxingUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0